Croatia Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Forty-nine films will compete for the Heart of Sarajevo awards at the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival, which runs in Bosnia and Herzegovina from Aug. 11 to 18. The Feature Film Competition will present 11 titles, with two world premieres, one international and five regional premieres. World premieres include “Europa” from Austrian-Iranian filmmaker Sudabeh Mortezai, whose credits include 2018 Venice Days entry “Joy,” the Best Film winner at London Film Festival, and “Macondo,” which competed for the Golden Bear at Berlin Film Festival in 2014. The other world premiere is “Medium,” from Greek director Christina Ioakeimidi, whose debut feature was “Harisma” in 2010.

Edwin van der Sar's agent has said the former Manchester United goalkeeper is "under control" after suffering a brain haemorrhage last week.

Edwin van der Sar is in intensive care after being taken to hospital on Friday afternoon following a bleed on the brain. The former Manchester United goalkeeper is in a stable condition, Ajax have confirmed.

Pedro Pascal, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in popular TV series and movies like “Narcos,” “The Mandalorian,” and “The Last of Us,” credits his career transformation to his breakthrough role on the hit fantasy show “Game of Thrones.” In season four of the HBO series, Pascal portrayed the charismatic and memorable character Oberyn Martell  (via Far Out Magazine).Pascal describes his time on “Game of Thrones” as an incredible and ideal experience. Playing a beautifully written and iconic character allowed him to showcase his talent in a solid season of the series.

Here are your Manchester City headlines for Wednesday, July 5.

Tourists heading to Dubrovnik should know that wheelie bags have been banned in the holiday hotspot - and they could face penalties for disobeying the rule.

UK holidaymakers could face fines of up to £230 if they use a wheelie suitcase in a popular European city this summer. A new rule banning suitcases on wheels is being introduced in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik.

Sofyan Amrabat has previously said a move to the Premier League would "suit" him.

Sir Rod Stewart's son announced his engagement to his model girlfriend Nicole Artukovich weeks after welcoming their first child.

The original Love Island couple, Cara Delahoyde and Nathan Massey who took home the winning title on series 2, have given fans a sneak peak into their fun-loving, child-free getaway to sunny Croatia.The loved-up couple, who share Freddie, five, and Delilah, two together, took an early morning flight followed by a boat to the island where they would be spending their holiday.The former star updated fans in a short video on Instagram where she took viewers on a step-by-step journey of how they arrived at the stunning location, she even gave a quick glimpse of their room. Cara said in the video: “Honestly, this place is so beautiful, I feel like I'm in Kings Landing or something like that. I cannot wait to explore and show you everything this place has to offer”.

The Match Factory has acquired international sales rights to Cinema Laika, a documentary feature about Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki and his process of building a personal movie theater in Karkkila, Finland.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Sales company The Match Factory has boarded the documentary “Cinéma Laika,” which focuses on Aki Kaurismäki’s construction of his own movie theater in Karkkila, Finland. Veljko Vidak directed the film, which was shot “in close harmony with Kaurismäki’s cinematic style,” according to a statement. The documentary offers an opportunity for the audience to delve into the realm of the Finnish master, engage with his peers, including Jim Jarmusch, and fully immerse themselves in the world of Kaurismäki’s cinema. In Karkkila, a small village in Finland, which has relied solely on metallurgical activities for the past two centuries, Kaurismäki and his friend the poet and writer Mika Lätti construct their own movie theater, called Kino Laika, within an old foundry. Using recycled wood and metal, and pre-owned furniture, Kaurismäki and the residents of Karkkila collaboratively craft Kino Laika.

After completing the signing of Mateo Kovacic, Manchester City could turn their attention to Josko Gvardiol next as they look to add to their squad this summer.

While figures at Manchester United insist the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules limit their spending power in the transfer market, external sources maintain the biggest obstacle to Erik ten Hag sufficiently strengthening his squad remains the club's owners.

Manchester City are closing in on making Chelsea star Mateo Kovacic their first signing of the summer transfer window.

RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is being strongly linked with a move to Manchester City this summer.

Oscar Qualifying AwardsBest of the Festival Award - Winner received $5,000 cash prize courtesy of Harold Matzner, Palm Springs International Film Society’s Immediate Past ChairmanJury: Angel An (VP of Acquisitions, Roadside Attractions); Kiva Reardon (Vice President of Film, PASTEL); Clay Pruitt (Head of Programming, Impact Distribution, Impact Distribution, Seed&Spark)Winner:  The Old Young Crow (Japan/USA), Directed by Liam LoPintoSpecial Mention:  48 Hours (Iran), Directed by Azadeh MoussaviSpecial Mention:  Away (Hungary/Belgium/Portugal), Directed by Ruslan FedotowBest Animated Short – Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.Jury: Geoff Marslett (Animator/Director/Writer/Producer); Irene Soriano (Writer/Film Curator); Gabe Van Amburgh (Film Programmer and Senior Manager, SXSW)Winner:  Way Better (Lithuania), Directed by Skirmanta JakaitėSpecial Mention:  Ashkaska (Spain/Argentina), Directed by Lara MaltzSpecial Mention:  Eeva (Croatia/Estonia), Directed by Lucija Mrzljak and Morten TšinakovBest Documentary Short – Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.Jury: Eugene Yi (Director/Editor/Writer, Free Chol Soo Lee); Maria Santos (Funds Program Officer, International Documentary Association); Opal H.

Manchester City have agreed a fee with Chelsea to sign midfielder Mateo Kovacic and the Croatian looks set to become the first new arrival through the door at the Etihad this summer.

Shakira’s trial for tax fraud draws nearer. While the Colombian singer maintains that she has fulfilled all of her obligations in Spain, the Prosecutor’s Office accuses her of personal income tax evasion and wealth tax between 2012 and 2014 and requests eight years in prison and a fine of 23.8 million euros.

Mateo Kovacic has left the door open for a switch to Manchester City after experiencing a "very bad" season at Chelsea.

“Succession” star Sarah Snook said that every day working on the popular HBO drama series felt like a “pinch me moment.”“Is this my job? Do I have to commute by boat to a super yacht for work? It’s bad, it’s very, very bad,” the actress said during a behind-the-scenes featurette you can watch above. “The last couple of episodes in Season 2 when we’re on the boat in Croatia, that was like ‘I’m getting paid for this? Oh, OK.'”She noted that the final scene shot – the “meal fit for a king” sequence – was a “playful, joyful, silly kind of experience.”“It was really fun but once we finished that, the kind of reality hit and I got pretty sad again,” Snook added.Brian Cox said the diner scene between Colin and Logan in Season 4 was a “lovely scene” to film.“It’s an acknowledgement of a character who’s just been a constant throughout the whole show,” Cox said.

Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem have surprised their fans with ‘The Hillbillies’, a new drill-inspired song which samples Bon Iver – check out the track below.The single is the pair’s tenth collaboration together, following the Grammy-winning ‘Family Ties’, 2021’s ‘Range Brothers’ and ‘Vent’.Lamar and Keem released ‘The Hillbillies’, along with a music video, yesterday (May 30). The new song samples the 2020 Bon Iver track ‘PDLIF’, which itself samples Alabaster dePlume’s ‘Visit Croatia’.‘The Hillbillies’ features UK drill-style hi-hats and elements of Jersey club bass, showing off Lamar and Keem’s conversational rapping styles in the process: “Shorty say she celibate, I’ma keep hopin’ (she’s not) / Shorty say she in love with me, I’ma be open (I’ll try).”In the song’s accompanying video, the Californian rappers are seen outside and inside Dodger Stadium in LA, as well as boarding a private jet and going on a shopping spree in London.The clip also features a cameo from Tyler, The Creator, who flashes a button to the camera at one point that reads “Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival 2023” before then pointing at Dodger Stadium.

Brits who are staying in the UK this May half term could enjoy better weather than those jetting away to popular holiday destinations, the Met Office has explained. Last week northern Italy was hit by severe floods following heavy rainfall, while thunderstorm warnings were issued for parts of Spain.

When Croatian-born TV exec Sanja Božić-Ljubičić set out to establish a television market in her corner of the world a decade ago, she had always felt the Baltics had been overlooked on the global content map. 

Chelsea could be without as many as nine first-team players on Thursday when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Adrian Wootton, CEO of Film London and the British Film Commission, will preside over the jury of the Malta Film Commission’s inaugural Mediterrane Film Festival celebrating movies from the Mediterranean Basin. The fest, which will take place in Valletta, Malta’s capital, and other locations on the island between June 25-30, will showcase films from each of the MED9 nations, an alliance of nine Mediterranean and Southern European Union member states. It comprises: Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. Besides Wotton the other jury members are “Triangle Of Sadness”actor Zlatko Burić; Cypriot filmmaker Tonia Mishiali; French actor and director Vahina Giocante; Greek producer Amanda Livanou; Italian journalist Boris Sollazzo; Maltese critic Mario Azzopardi; Portuguese journalist and programmer José Vieira Mendes; Slovenian journalist Tina Poglajen; and Spanish programmer Carlos Reviriego.

Metro Puerto Rico, the delegates of Aguada (Jinny Valentín), Añasco (Ninoshka Rodríguez), and Carolina (Luisa Angélica Vázquez) are among the moms trying to take the title after the Miss Universe organization began allowing young, married, divorced and mothers to compete.The current Miss Puerto Rico, Ashley Ann Cariño Barreto, will crown her successor, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, after a preliminary competition set to take place on Sunday, August 20.Daniela Victoria Arroyo González will also compete for the crown of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2023 as the first transgender woman in the island’s beauty pageant. “The emotion and pride that I feel in this moment overwhelms me with joy,” Arroyo said in a video.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, arriving at the Ms Foundation awards ceremony for Women shortly before a “near catastrophic” paparazzi car chase. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said on Wednesday 17 May that the “relentless pursuit” lasted over two hours and “resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road”.

Last week was a huge week for Rod Stewart as he became a grandfather to two precious baby boys.

Sir Rod Stewart has become a grandfather twice in the one week as his daughter Ruby and son Liam both welcomed beautiful baby boys just days apart.

Mike McCahill Guest Contributor The theme of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, ‘United by Music,’ announced both the annual musical extravaganza’s all-embracing intentions and its status as a joint endeavor. With 2022 winners Ukraine unable to host in Kyiv due to the war, the U.K. – last year’s runners-up, thanks to Sam Ryder’s soaring “Space Man” – stepped in to reinstall this ever more spectacular circus (along with multiple Ukrainian creative personnel) in Liverpool, birthplace of the Beatles. A declaration that this was to be the glitziest of collabs was served via a prologue that paired Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, reworking last year’s winning entry “Stefania”, with the Princess of Wales, apparently providing piano accompaniment from within Windsor Castle. Soft power-a-go-go.

The Eurovision Song Contest final is underway with singers from 26 all taking to the stage.

The UK's Eurovision hopes this year rest on the shoulder of singer Mae Muller.

Congratulations are in order for Rod Stewart, who has become a granddad for the second time. In a sweet snap shared to his Instagram profile, the iconic rocker's 28 year old son Liam Stewart announced the birth of his first child with his stunning partner Nicole Ann. Sharing a slew of adorable snaps of their newborn, Liam, who Rod shares with his ex Rachel Hunter, wrote: "Welcome lad love you.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place in Liverpool with a live audience at the M&S Bank arena tonight.

Eurovision entry Let 3 have spoken to NME about the meaning of their song ‘Mama ŠČ!, and how they’re looking to pull off a “condensed anti-war opera”.The band caused a stir online with their drag-meets-military pomp-pop extravaganza got them through the semi-finals this week. Speaking to NME backstage in Liverpool ahead of the final tonight (Saturday May 13), bandmember Dražen Baljak explained that the week had been “heavy, but worth it”.“We were a bit surprised at people’s reaction, but when it pays off it’s so exciting,” he said.Explaining the inspiration behind the song, Baljak revealed that it came about members of the band putting on an adaption of an anti-war play.